Jobs and pay
Weekly pay for residents and weekly pay at local workplaces are different measures. Claimant count and unemployment also have different definitions and should not be used interchangeably.
What the evidence says
Employers · UK Government
£724.40
Median full-time resident weekly pay
Gross weekly employee pay; ASHE resident analysis. This is not annual earnings.
ONS / Nomis · 2025
Checked 3 October 2026£781.50
Median full-time workplace weekly pay
Employees working in Southampton, including commuters; not resident earnings.
ONS / Nomis · 2025
Checked 3 October 202673.3%
Employment rate
Annual Population Survey estimate; subject to sampling uncertainty.
ONS / Nomis · April 2025–March 2026
Checked 3 October 20264.8%
Model-based unemployment rate
ONS model-based estimate, preferred over the smaller local survey estimate.
ONS / Nomis · April 2025–March 2026
Checked 3 October 20264.2%
Claimant count rate
Not the unemployment rate. Includes people required to look for work who receive Universal Credit or JSA; not seasonally adjusted.
ONS / Nomis · August 2026
Checked 3 October 2026Who can help?
UK Government
Benefits, pensions and immigration
GOV.UK is the starting point for Universal Credit, State Pension and immigration services. Southampton’s welfare service can explain local support and council tax help.
Open official service → More helpCheck the detail
| Measure | Southampton / area | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median full-time resident weekly pay | £724.40 a week · Southampton | 2025 | ONS / Nomis |
| Median full-time workplace weekly pay | £781.50 a week · Southampton | 2025 | ONS / Nomis |
| Employment rate | 73.3% % aged 16–64 · Southampton | April 2025–March 2026 | ONS / Nomis |
| Model-based unemployment rate | 4.8% % of economically active people aged 16+ · Southampton | April 2025–March 2026 | ONS / Nomis |
| Claimant count rate | 4.2% % of residents aged 16–64 · Southampton | August 2026 | ONS / Nomis |